Shelearnedfromhim，astheywalkedtogether，andhealsolearnedfromher，inamannerwhichbuiltforthemastheywentfrompointtopoint，acertaindegreeofdelicateintimacy，gradually，duringtheirramble，tendingtomakediscussionandquestionpossible。Herintelligentandbroadinterestintheworkontheestate，herfrankdesiretoacquiresuchpracticalinformationasshelacked，arousedinhimselfaninteresthehadpreviouslyseennoreasonthatheshouldfeel。Herealisedthathisoutlookupontheunusualsituationwasbeingilluminatedbyanintelligenceatoncebrilliantandfine，whileitwasalsofullofniceshading。Thesituation，ofcourse，WAS
　　unusual。Abeautifulyoungsister—in—lawappearinguponthedarkhorizonofashamefullyill—usedestate，andrestoring，withtouchesofawandofgold，whatafellowwhowasablackguardshouldhavesetinorderyearsago。ThatLadyAnstruthers’
　　moneyshouldhaverescuedherboy’sinheritanceinsteadofbeingspentuponlavishviciousnesswentwithoutsaying。WhatMountDunstanwasmoststruckbywastheperfectclearness，anditscombinationwithacertainjudicialgoodbreeding，inMissVanderpoel’sviewofthematter。Shemadenoconfidences，beautifullycandidashermannerwas，buthesawthatsheclearlyunderstoodthethingshewasdoing，andthatifhersisterhadhadnosonshewouldnothavedonethis，butsomethingtotallydifferent。HehadanideathatLadyAnstrutherswouldhavebeenswiftlyandlightlysweptbacktoNewYork，andSirNigellefttohisowndevices，inwhichcaseStornhamCourtanditsvillagewouldgraduallyhavecrumbledtodecay。ItwasforSirUghtredAnstrutherstheplacewasbeingrestored。Shewasquiteclearonthematterofentail。Hewonderedatfirst——notunnaturally——howagirlhadlearnedcertainthingsshehadanobviouslyclearknowledgeof。Astheycontinuedtoconversehelearned。ReubenS。Vanderpoelwaswithoutdoubtamanremarkablenotonlyinthematterofbeingtheownerofvastwealth。Therisingfloodofhismillionshadbornehimuponitsstrangesurfaceathinking，notanunthinkingbeing——infact，astrongandfineintelligence。Histhousandsofmilesofyearlyjourneyinginhissumptuousprivatecarhadbeenthemeansofhisaccumulatingnotmerelyaddedgains，butideas，pointsofview，emotions，ahumanoutlookworthcountingasanasset。Hisdaughter，whenshehadtravelledwithhim，hadseenandtalkedwithhimofallhehimselfhadseen。Whenshehadnotbeenhiscompanionshehadheardfromhimafterwardsallbestworthhearing。Shehadbecome——withoutanyspecialprocess——familiarwiththetechnicalitiesofhugebusinessschemes，withlawandcommerceandpoliticalsituations。Evenherchildishinterestintheworldofenterpriseandlabourhadbeenpassionate。Soshehadacquired——inevitably，whilealmostunconsciously——aremarkableeducation。
　　"IfhehadnotbeenHIMSELFhemighteasilyhavegrowntiredofalittlegirlconstantlywantingtohearthings——constantlyaskingquestions，"shesaid。"Buthedidnotgettired。Weinventedaspecialknockonthedoorofhisprivateroom。Itsaid，`MayI
　　comein，father？’Ifhewasbusyheansweredwithoneknockonhisdesk，andIwentaway。Ifhehadtimetotalkhecalledout，`Come，Betty，’andIwenttohim。Iusedtosituponthefloorandleanagainsthisknee。Hehadabeautifulwayofstrokingmyhairormyhandashetalked。Hetrustedme。Hetoldmeofgreatthingsevenbeforehehadtalkedofthemtomen。HeknewI
　　wouldneverspeakofwhatwassaidbetweenusinhisroom。Thatwaspartofhistrust。Hesaidoncethatitwasapartoftheevolutionofrace，thatmenhadbeguntoexpectofwomenwhatinpastagestheyreallyonlyexpectedofeachother。"
　　MountDunstanhesitatedbeforespeaking。
　　"Youmean——absolutefaith——apartfromaffection？"
　　"Yes。Thepowertobequitesilent，evenwhenoneistemptedtospeak——iftospeakmightbetraywhatitiswisertokeeptoone’sselfbecauseitisanotherman’saffair。Thekindofthingwhichisgoodfaithamongbusinessmen。Itappliestosmallthingsasmuchastolarge，andtootherthingsthanbusiness。"
　　MountDunstan，recallinghisownchildhoodandhisownfather，feltagainthepressureoftheremotementalsuggestionthatshehadhadtoomuch，achildhoodandgirlhoodlikethis，theaffectionandcompanionshipofamanoflargeandorderedintelligence，ofclearandjudicialoutlookuponanimmenseareaoflifeandexperience。Therewasnocauseforwonderthatheryoungwomanhoodwasallitpresentedtohimself，aswellastoothers。Recognisingtheshadowofresentmentinhisthought，hesweptitaway，aninwardsensemakingitcleartohimthatiftheirpositionshadbeenreversed，shewouldhavebeenmoregenerousthanhimself。
　　Hepulledhimselftogetherwithanunconsciousmovementofhisshoulders。HerewasthedayofearlyJune，thegoldofthesuninitsmorning，thegreenshadows，theturftheywalkedontogether，theskylarkrisingagainfromthemeadowandshoweringdownitssong。Whythinkofanythingelse。
　　Whatalinethatwaswhichsweptfromherchindownherlongslimthroattoitshollow！Thecolourbetweenthevelvetofherclose—setlashes——theremembranceofhercurioussplendidblush——madetheman’slostandunlivedyouthcomebacktohim。WhatdiditmatterwhethershewasAmericanorEnglish——whatdiditmatterwhethershewasinsolentlyrichorbeggarlypoor？Hewouldlethimselfgoandforgetallbutthepleasureofthesightandhearingofher。
　　Soastheywenttheyfoundthemselveslaughingtogetherandtalkingwithoutrestraint。Theywentthroughtheflowerandkitchengardens；theysawtheoncefallenwallrebuiltnowwiththeoldbrick；theyvisitedthegreenhousesandcameuponKedgersentrancedwithbusiness，butenrapturedatbeingcalledupontoshowhistreasures。Hiseyes，turningmagnetiseduponBetty，revealedthestoryofhissoul。MountDunstanremarkedthatwhenhespoketoherofhisflowersitwasasifthereexistedbetweenthemthesympathywhichmightbeengenderedbetweentwowhohadsatuptogethernightafternightwithdelicatechildren。
　　"He’sstrongerto—day，miss，"hesaid，astheypausedbeforeanewwonderfulbloom。"Whathe’sgettingnowisgoodforhim。Ihadtochangehisfood，miss，butthisseemsallright。Hiscolour’sbetter。"
　　Bettyherselfbentovertheflowerasshemighthavebentoverachild。Hereyessoftened，shetouchedaleafwithaslimfinger，asdelicatelyasifithadbeenanew—bornbaby’scheek。AsMountDunstanwatchedherhedrewastepnearertoherside。Forthefirsttimeinhislifehefelttheglowofanormalandsimplepleasureuntouchedbyanybitterness。
　　CHAPTERXXVIII
　　SETTINGTHEMTHINKING
　　OldDoby，sittingathisopenwindow，withhispipeandillustratedpapersonthetablebyhisside，begantofindlifeaseriesofthrills。Theadvantageofawindowgivinguponthevillagestreetunspeakablyincreased。Formanyyearshehadpreferredthechimneycornergreatly，andhadrejoicedatthedrawinginofwinterdayswhenafiremustbewellkeptup，andamanmightbendoverit，andrubhishandsslowlygazingintotheredcoalsorlittlepointedflameswhichseemedtheonlythingsaliveandworthythewatching。Theflameswereblueatthebaseandyellowatthetop，andjumpedlookingmerry，andcaughtatbitsofblackcoal，andsetthemcracklingandthrowingoffsplinterstilltheywereablazeandasmuchaliveastherest。Amancouldgetcomfortandentertainmenttherefrom。Therewasnaughtelsesogoodtolivewith。Nothinghappenedinthestreet，andeverydullfacethatpassedwasanoldstory，andtoldanoldtaleofstupefyinghardlabourandharddays。
　　Butnowthewindowwasabetterplacetositnear。Cartswentbywithmenwhistlingastheywalkedbythehorsesheads。LoadsofthingswantedforworkattheCourt。Newfacespassedfacesofworkmen——sometimesgrinning，"impidentyoungsters，"wholarkedwiththeyoungwomen，andcalledouttothemastheypassedtheircottages，ifagood—
　　lookingonewasloiteringabouthergardengate。OldDobychuckledattheirlove—makingchaff，rememberingdimlythatseventyyearsagohehadbeenjustasproperayoungchap，andhadmadeloveinthesameway。Lord，Lord，yes！Hehadbeenaboldyoungchapaseverwinkedaneye。Then，too，therewerethevans，heavy—loadedandclosed，andcomingalongslowly。Everyfewdays，atfirst，therehadcomeavanfrom"Lunnon。"GoingtotheCourt，ofcourse。Andtositthere，andhearthewomentalkaboutwhatmightbeinthem，andtotrytoguessone’sself，thatwasararepastime。FinethingsgoingtotheCourtthesedays——furnitureandgrandeurfillinguptheshabbyoremptyoldrooms，andmakingthemlooklikeotherbighouses——sameasWesterbridgeeven，sothewomensaid。Thewomenwerealwaystalkingandgettingbitsofnewssomehow，andwerebeginningtobeworthlisteningto，becausetheyhadsomethingmoreinterestingtotalkaboutthanchildren’sworn—outshoes，andwhoopingcough。
　　Dobyheardeverythingfirstfromthem。"Dangthewomen，theyalwaysknowedthingsfust。"Itwasthemasknowedaboutthesmartcarriagesasbegantorollthroughtheonevillagestreet。Theyweregentry’scarriages，withfine，stampinghorses，andjinglingsilverharness，andbigcoachmen，andtallfootmen，andsuchlikehadlongagodroppedoffshowingthemselvesatStornham。
　　"ButnowthegentryhasheardaboutMissVanderpoel，andwhat’sbeingdoneattheCourt，andtheyknowwhatitmeans，"saidyoungMrs。Doby。"Andtheywanttoseeher，andfindoutwhatshe’slike。It’sherbringsthem。"
　　OldDobychuckledandrubbedhishands。Heknewwhatshewaslike。Thatstraight，slimbackofhers，andthethicktwistofblackhair，andthewayshehadoflaughingatyou，ascheeryasifabellwasringing。Aye，heknewallaboutthat。
　　"Whentheyseeheronce，they’llcomeagen，forsure，"
　　hequaveredshrilly，anddaybydayhewatchedforthegrandcarriageswithvivideagerness。Ifadayortwopassedwithouthisseeingone，hegrewfretful，andwasinjured，feelingthathisbeautywasbeingneglected！"Noneto—day，noryetyest’day，"
　　hewouldcackle。"Whatbetheyfolka—doin’？"
　　OldMrs。Welden，havingheardofthepipe，andcometoseeit，hadstruckupanacquaintancewithhim，anddroppedinalmosteverydaytotalkandsitathiswindow。Shewasayoungthing，bycomparison，andcouldbringhimlivelynews，and，indeed，sostirhimupwithhergossipthathewasindangerofbecomingayoungthinghimself。Hergroceriesandhistobaccoweresubjectswhoseinterestwasundying。
　　Agreatcuriosityhadbeenawakenedinthecounty，andvisitorscamefromdistancesgreaterthansuchasordinarilyincludeusualcalls。Naturally，onewascuriousaboutthedaughteroftheVanderpoelwhowasasortofnationalinstitutioninhisowncountry。HisnamehadnotbeensomuchheardofinEnglandwhenLadyAnstruthershadarrivedbuttherehad，atfirst，beenfeltaninterestinher。Butshehadbeenafailure——achildish—lookinggirl——whosethin，fair，prettinesshadnodistinction，andwhowasobviouslyoverwhelmedbyhersurroundings。ShehadevidentlyhadnoinfluenceoverSirNigel，andhadnotbeenabletopreventhismakingducksanddrakesofhermoney，whichofcourseoughttohavebeenspentontheestate。BesideswhichamarriedwomanrepresentedfewerpotentialitiesthanahandsomeunmarriedgirlentitledtoexpectationsfromhugeAmericanwealth。
　　Sothecarriagescameandcameagain，and，statelyorunstatelyfar—offneighbourssatatteauponthelawnunderthetrees，anditwasobservedthatthemethodsandappointmentsoftheCourthadentirelychanged。NothinglookednewandAmerican。Thesilentlymovingmen—servantscouldnothavebeenimprovedupon，therewasplainlyanexcellentchefsomewhere，andthemassivesilverwasoldandwonderful。Uponeverybody’sword，thechangewassuchasitwasworthalongdrivemerelytosee！
　　Themostwonderfulthing，however，wasLadyAnstruthersherself。Shehadbeguntogrowdelicatelyplump，heroncedrawnandhaggardfacehadroundedout，herskinhadsmoothed，andwasactuallybecomingpinkandfair，animbusofpalefinehairpuffedairilyoverherforehead，andsheworethemostcharminglittleclothes，allofwhichmadeherlookfifteenyearsyoungerthanshehadseemedwhen，onthegroundsofill—health，shehadretiredintoseclusion。Therenewedrelationswithherfamily，theatmospherebywhichshewassurrounded，hadevidentlygivenherafreshleaseoflife，andawakenedinheranewcourage。
　　Whenthesummerepidemicofgardenpartiesbrokeforth，oldDobygleefullybeheld，dayafterday，theCourtcarriagedrivebybearingherladyshipandhersisterattiredinfairestshadesandtints"sameasiftheywasflowers。"Theirdelicatevaporousness，andrarecolours，weresweetdelightstotheoldman，andheandMrs。Weldenspenthappyeveningsdiscussingthemaspersonalpossessions。TothesetwoBettyWASapersonalpossession，bestowinguponthemamarkeddistinction。Theywerehersandshewastheirs。Nooneelsesoownedher。Heavenhadgivenhertothemthattheirlastyearsmightbelightedwithsplendour。
　　OnherwaytooneofthegardenpartiesshestoppedthecarriagebeforeoldDoby’scottage，andwentintohimtospeakafewwords。Shewasofpaleconvolvulusbluethatafternoon，andDoby，standinguptouchinghisforelockandMrs。Weldencurtsying，gazedatherwithprayerintheireyes。Shehadafewflowersinherhand，andabookofcolouredphotographsofVenice。
　　"ThesearepicturesofthecityItoldyouabout——thecitybuiltinthesea——wherethestreetsarewater。YouandMrs。
　　Weldencanlookatthemtogether，"shesaid，asshelaidflowersandbookdown。"IamgoingtoDunholmCastletoagardenpartythisafternoon。SomedayIwillcomeandtellyouaboutit。"
　　Thetwowereatthewindowstaringspellbound，asshesweptbacktothecarriagebetweenthesweet—williamsandCanterburybellsborderingthenarrowgardenpath。
　　"DoyouknowIreallywentintoletthemseemydress，"
　　shesaid，whensherejoinedLadyAnstruthers。"OldDoby’sgranddaughtertoldmethatheandMrs。WeldenhavelittlequarrelsaboutthecoloursIwear。Itseemsthattheyfindmywardrobeanabsorbinginterest。WhenIputthebookonthetable，IfeltDobytouchmysleevewithhistremblingoldhand。HethoughtIdidnotknow。"
　　"WhatwilltheydowithVenice？"askedRosy。
　　"Theywillbelievethewaterisasblueasthephotographsmakeit——andthepalacesaspink。ItwillseemlikeachapteroutofRevelations，whichtheycanbelieveistrueandnotmerely`Scriptur，’——because_I_havebeenthere。IwishI
　　hadbeentotheCityoftheGatesofPearl，andcouldtellthemaboutthat。"
　　Onthelawnsatthegardenpartiesshewasmuchgazedatandcommentedupon。Herheightandherlongslenderneckheldherheadabovethoseofothergirls，thedenseblackofherhairmadearichnoteofshadowamidtheprevailingEnglishblondness。Hermerecolouringsetherapart。Rosyusedtowatchherwithtenderwonder，recallinghermemoryofnine—year—oldBetty，withthelongslimlegsandthedemandingandaccusingchild—eyes。Shehadalwaysbeenthiscreatureeveninthosefar—offdays。AtthegardenpartyatDunholmCastleitbecameevidentthatshewas，afteramanner，unusuallythecentralfigureoftheoccasion。Itwasnotatallsurprising，peoplesaidtoeachother。NothingcouldhavebeenmoredesirableforLordWestholt。Hecombinedrankwithfortune，andtheVanderpoelwealthalmostconstitutedrankinitself。BothLordandLadyDunholmseemedpleasedwiththegirl。LordDunholmshowedhergreatattention。
　　Whenshetookpartinthedancingonthelawn，helookedondelightedly。Hewalkedaboutthegardenswithher，anditwasplaintoseethattheirconversationwasnottheordinarypoliteefforttoaccord，usuallymarkingthetalkbetweenamaturemanandamerelyprettygirl。LordDunholmsometimeslaughedwithunfeigneddelight，andsometimesthetwoseemedtotalkofgravethings。
　　"Suchoccasionsastheseareasortofyearlytakingofthesocialcensusofthecounty，"LordDunholmexplained。"OneinvitesALLone’sneighboursandisinvitedagain。Itisafriendlydutyoneowes。"
　　"IdonotseeLordMountDunstan，"Bettyanswered。"Ishehere？"
　　ShehadneverdeniedtoherselfherinterestinMountDunstan，andshehadlookedforhim。LordDunholmhesitatedasecond，ashissonhaddoneatMissVanderpoel’smentionofthetabooedname。But，beinganolderman，hefeltmoreatlibertytospeak，andgaveheraratherlongkindlook。
　　"Mydearyounglady，"hesaid，"didyouexpecttoseehimhere？"
　　"Yes，IthinkIdid，"Bettyreplied，withslowsoftness。
　　"IbelieveIratherhopedIshould。"
　　"Indeed！Youareinterestedinhim？"
　　"Iknowhimverylittle。ButIaminterested。Iwilltellyouwhy。"
　　Shepausedbyaseatbeneathatree，andtheysatdowntogether。Shegave，withafewswiftvividtouches，asketchofthered—hairedsecond—classpassengerontheMeridiana，ofwhomshehadonlythoughtthathewasanunhappy，rough—
　　lookingyoungman，untilthebriefmomentinwhichtheyhadstoodfacetoface，eachcomprehendingthattheotherwastobereliedoniftheworstshouldcometotheworst。Shehadunderstoodhispromptdisappearancefromthescene，andhadlikedit。Whensherelatedtheincidentofhermeetingwithhimwhenshethoughthimamerekeeperonhisownlands，LordDunholmlistenedwithachangedandthoughtfulexpression。Theeffectproduceduponherimaginationbywhatshehadseen，hersilentwanderingthroughthesadbeautyofthewrongedplace，ledbythemanwhotriedstifflytobearhimselfasaservant，hisunintendedself—revelations，herclear，well—arguedpointofviewcharmedhim。Shehadseenthethingsetapartfromitscountyscandal，andsohadreadpossibilitiesothershadbeenblindto。HewasimmenselytouchedbycertainthingsshesaidabouttheFirstMan。
　　"Heisoneofthem，"shesaid。"Theyfindtheirwayintheend——theyfindtheirway。Butjustnowhethinksthereisnone。Heisstandinginthedark——wheretheroadsmeet。"
　　"Youthinkhewillfindhisway？"LordDunholmsaid。
　　"Whydoyouthinkso？"
　　"BecauseIKNOWhewill，"sheanswered。"ButIcannottellyouWHYIknow。"
　　"Whatyouhavesaidhasbeeninterestingtome，becauseofthelightyourownthoughtthrewuponwhatyousaw。IthasnotbeenMountDunstanIhavebeencaringfor，butforthelightyousawhimin。Youmethimwithoutprejudice，andyoucarriedthelightinyourhand。Youalwayscarryalight，myimpressionis，"veryquietly。"Somewomendo。"
　　"Theprejudiceyouspeakofmustbeabitterthingforaproudmantobear。Isitajustprejudice？Whathashedone？"
　　LordDunholmwasgravelysilentforafewmoments。
　　"Itisanextraordinarythingtoreflect，"——hiswordscameslowly——"thatitmayNOTbeajustprejudice。_I_donotknowthathehasdoneanything——butseemrathersulky，andbethesonofhisfather，andthebrotherofhisbrother。"
　　"AndgotoAmerica，"saidBetty。"Hecouldhaveavoideddoingthat——buthecannotbecalledtoaccountforhisrelations。
　　Ifthatisall——theprejudiceisNOTjust。"
　　"No，itisnot，"saidLordDunholm，"andonefeelsratherawkwardathavingsharedit。Youhavesetmethinkingagain，MissVanderpoel。"
　　CHAPTERXXIX
　　THETHREADOFG。SELDEN
　　TheShuttlehavinginitsweavingcaughtupthethreadofG。Selden’srudimentaryexistenceanddrawnit，withtheyoungmanhimself，acrossthesea，usedcuriouslythethreadinquestion，intheformingofthedesignofitshugeweb。Aswoolandcoarselinenaresometimesinterwovenwithrichsilkfordecorativeorutilitarianpurposes，soperhapswasthispreviouslyunvaluedmaterialemployed。
　　Itwas，indeed，aninterestingtruththattheyoungman，duringhisconvalescence，withouthisownknowledge，actedasaspeciesofmagnetwhichdrewtogetherpersonswhomightnoteasilyotherwisehavemet。Mr。PenzanceandMountDunstanrodeovertoseehimeveryfewdays，andtheirvisitsnaturallyestablishedrelationswithStornhamCourtmuchmoreintimatethancouldhaveformedthemselvesinthesamelengthoftimeunderanyoftheordinarycircumstancesofcountrylife。ConventionalitieslosttheirprominenceinfriendlyintercoursewithSelden。Itwasnot，however，thathehimselfdesiredtodispensewithconvention。Hisintensewishto"dotherightthing，"andavoidgivingoffencewasthemostingenuousandtouchingfeatureofhisbroadcosmopolitangoodnature。
　　"IfIevermakeabreak，sir，"hehadoncesaid，withalmostpassionatefervour，intalkingtoMr。Penzance，"pleasetellme，andsetmeontherighttrack。Nofellowlikestolooklikeahoosier，butIdon’tmindthathalfasmuchas——asseemingnottoAPPRECIATE。"
　　Heusedtheword"appreciate"frequently。Itexpressedforhimmanydegreesofthanks。
　　"Itellyouthat’sfine，"hesaidtoUghtred，whobroughthimaflowerfromthegarden。"Iappreciatethat。"
　　ToBettyhesaidmorethanonce：
　　"YouknowhowIappreciateallthis，MissVanderpoel。
　　YouDOknowIappreciateit，don’tyou？"
　　HehadanimmenseadmirationforMountDunstan，andtalkedtohimagreatdealaboutAmerica，oftenaboutthesheepranch，andwhatitmighthavedoneandoughttohavedone。ButhisadmirationforMr。Penzancebecameaffection。
　　TohimhetalkedofteneraboutEngland，andlistenedtothevicar’sscholarlystoriesofitshistory，itspastgloriesanditspresentones，ashemighthavelistenedatfourteentostoriesfromtheArabianNights。
　　Thesetwobeingfrequentlyabsorbedinconversation，MountDunstanwasratherthrownuponBetty’shands。Whentheystrolledtogetherabouttheplaceorsatunderthedeepshadeofgreentrees，theytalkednotonlyofEnglandandAmerica，butofdiversthingswhichincreasedtheirknowledgeofeachother。Itispointsofviewwhichrevealqualities，tendencies，andinnatedifferences，oraccordancesofthought，andthepointsofviewofeachinterestedtheother。
　　"Mr。SeldenisaskingMr。PenzancequestionsaboutEnglishhistory，"Bettysaid，ononeoftheafternoonsinwhichtheysatintheshade。"Ineednotaskyouquestions。YouAREEnglishhistory。"
　　"AndyouareAmericanhistory，"MountDunstananswered。
　　"IsupposeIam。"
　　AtoneoftheirchancemeetingsMissVanderpoelhadtoldLordDunholmandLordWestholtsomethingofthestoryofG。Selden。Thenoveltyofithaddelightedandamusedthem。LordDunholmhad，atpoints，beentouchedasPenzancehadbeen。WestholthadfeltthathemustrideovertoStornhamtoseetheconvalescent。HewantedtolearnsomeNewYorkslang。
　　HewouldtakelessonsfromSelden，andhewouldalsobuyaDelkoff——twoDelkoffs，ifthatwouldbebetter。Heknewahard—workingfellowwhooughttohaveatypewriter。
　　"Heathoughttohaveone，"hehadsaidtohisfather。
　　Heathwasthehouse—steward。"Thinkofthelettersthepoorchaphastowritetotrades—peopletoorderthings，andun—
　　orderthem，andblackguardtheshopkeeperswhentheyarenotsatisfactory。InvestinoneforHeath，father。"
　　"Itisbynomeansabadidea，"LordDunholmreflected。
　　"Timewouldbesavedbytheuseofit，Ihavenodoubt。"
　　"Itsavestimeinanydepartmentwhereitcanbeused，"
　　Bettyhadanswered。"ThreearenowinuseatStornham，andIamgoingtopresentonetoKedgers。ThisisatestimonialIamoffering。ThreeweeksagoIbegantousetheDelkoff。SincethenIhaveusednoother。IfYOUusethemyouwillintroducethemtothecounty。"
　　Sheunderstoodthefeelingofthejuniorassistant，whenhefoundhimselfinthepresenceofpossiblepurchasers。Herbloodtingledslightly。Shewishedshehadbroughtacatalogue。
　　"WewillcometoStornhamtoseethecatalogue，"LordDunholmpromised。
　　"Perhapsyouwillreaditaloudtous，"Westholtsuggestedgleefully。
　　"G。Seldenknowsitbyheart，andwillrepeatittoyouwithrunningcomments。DoyouknowIshallbeverygladifyoudecidetobuyone——ortwo——orthree，"withanupliftoftheIrishblueeyestoLordDunholm。"ThebloodofthefirstReubenVanderpoelstirsinmyveins——alsoIhavebeguntobefondofG。Selden。"
　　ThereforeitoccurredthatontheafternoonreferredtoLadyAnstruthersappearedcrossingtheswardwithtwomalevisitorsinherwake。
　　"LordDunholmandLordWestholt，"saidBetty，rising。
　　ForthismeetingbetweenthemenSeldenwas，withoutdoubt，responsible。WhilehisfathertalkedtoMountDunstan，Westholtexplainedthattheyhadcomeathirstforthecatalogue。PresentlyBettytookhimtotheshelteredcornerofthelawn，wheretheconvalescentsatwithMr。Penzance。
　　But，forashorttime，LordDunholmremainedtoconversewithMountDunstan。Inawaythesituationwasdelicate。Toencounterbychanceaneighbourwhomone——
　　forreasons——hasnotseensincehischildhood，andtobeequaltopassingoverandgracefullyobliteratingtheinterveningyears，makesdemandevenuponfinishedtact。LordDunholm’sworldhadbeenalargeone，andhehadacquiredexperiencetendingtothedevelopmentofthemostperfectmethods。IfG。Seldenhadchancedtobethemagnetwhichhaddecidedhiscoursethisspecialafternoon，MissVanderpoelitwaswhohadstirredinhimsufficientinterestinMountDunstantocausehimtousethebestofthesemethodswhenhefoundhimselffacetofacewithhim。
　　Hebeautifullyeliminatedtheyears，heeliminatedallbutthefactsthattheyoungman’sfatherandhimselfhadbeenacquaintancesinyouth，thatherememberedMountDunstanhimselfasachild，thathehadheardwithinterestofhisvisittoAmerica。Whatsoevertheyoungmanfelt，hemadenosignwhichpresentedobstacles。Heacceptedtheeliminationswithoutwardcomposure。Hewasapowerful—lookingfellow，withafinewayofcarryinghisshoulders，andaneyewhichmightbeabletolightsavagely，butjustnow，atleast，heshowednothingofthesulkinesshewasaccusedof。
　　LordDunholmprogressedadmirablywithhim。Hesoonfoundthatheneednotbeuponanystrainwithregardtotheeliminations。Themanhimselfcouldeliminate，whichwasanassistance。
　　TheytalkedtogetherwhentheyturnedtofollowtheotherstotheretreatofG。Selden。